Sky Bet Championship: Matchday 8 preview

16 September 2016

Alex Hannah

The Sky Bet Championship gets the weekend's EFL action under way when Leeds United travel to the Cardiff City Stadium in Saturday's early kick-off live on Sky Sports.

Newcastle United go in search of their sixth successive win, which could put them top of the Sky Bet Championship, and they face Walter Zenga’s Wolves who will be hurting after their 4-0 home loss to Barnsley in midweek.

Current leaders Huddersfield Town also face a side looking to recover from a poor showing in midweek, in QPR. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's men suffered their heaviest ever home reverse when they were defeated 6-0 by Newcastle on Tuesday.

The aforementioned Tykes could also move to the summit - Paul Heckingbottom's men welcome Reading to Oakwell.

Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday bring the schedule to a close on Saturday evening when they go head-to-head in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Appointments: Click here to see the match officials on Matchday 8 duty

Five facts

1. Victory for Newcastle on Saturday will make it the first time they have won six league games in a row since the 2011/2012 season. The Magpies haven’t suffered defeat to Wolves since an FA Cup tie in 2003.

2. Brentford have won their last five fixtures against Preston; the Lilywhites are without success against the Bees since 2011.

3. It’s the first league encounter between Burton and Brighton this weekend. They've clashed before, in the EFL Cup in 2014, which Brighton won 3-0.

4. Wigan haven’t got the better of Fulham in the two sides’ last 15 meetings. Their last triumph against the Cottagers came in October 2006.

5. Rotherham have lost 12 of their last 14 league visits at Blackburn, last winning there in September 1979.